Hockey net carrier apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sports net carrier apparatus that includes a carrier having a vertical frame supported by at least two wheels, and a hook member connected to the vertical frame at a substantially top section of the vertical frame. The hook member rotatably engages with a horizontal top portion of a sports goal to connect the vertical frame of the carrier to permit a movement of the sports goal by moving the carrier via the at least two wheels. The hook member includes a curved portion for engaging the top portion of the sports goal. The hook member can be locked to the vertical frame of the carrier by a cross bar connected to the vertical frame at the substantially top section of the vertical frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

This nonprovisional patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/292,089 filed on Jan. 4, 2010, entitled “Hockey Net Carrier Apparatus,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments are generally related to nets utilized in sports, such as ice hockey, field hockey, roller hockey, lacrosse, soccer and so forth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Goals are used in many games such as ice hockey, soccer, football, etc. In a typical goal implementation, two goals be mounted at opposite ends of a hockey rink, and each goal comprises two goal posts, a crossbar, support struts and an optional net and has a front. The goal posts are typically made of rigid material, are mounted upright and have a top ends. In some case, the crossbar is made of a rigid material or steel and is connected to the top ends of the goal posts called a cross bar, to form a squared off or tapered inverted-U shape. The support struts are also made of a rigid material, or steel and are attached are inserted into the goalposts and extend down away from the front to hold the goalposts and crossbar upright to the ice surface. The net is attached to the crossbar, goalposts and support struts to catch and hold a puck within the goal.

When goals need to be removed from, for example, a hockey rink, after a game or practice, the nets have to be removed from the ice surface during the resurfacing process and very larger areas must be used to store the goals nets. Since goals often have many, large pieces, the goals can be very inconvenient to assemble, dismantle and move. It is actually more convenient simply to move the entire goal in one piece. However, most goals are heavy and cumbersome to move and may require two or more individuals to lift the goal and then move it elsewhere. If nets are dragged, for example, the rough ice can destroy the netting and net bibs causing an added expense every year. By utilizing the disclosed Hockey net carrier, which is described in greater detail herein, the nets can be protected during transport.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

It is, therefore, one aspect of the present invention to provide for a hockey net carrier apparatus.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide for a hockey goal carrier apparatus having a hook member for engaging and securing a sports goal for transportation of the goal.

The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. A hockey net carrier apparatus that includes a carrier having a vertical frame supported by at least two wheels, and a hook member connected to the vertical frame at a substantially top section of the vertical frame. The hook member rotatably engages with a horizontal top portion of a cross bar to connect the vertical frame of the carrier to permit a movement of the hockey net by moving the carrier, which includes and is connected to at least two wheels. The hook member includes a curved portion for engaging the top portion of the cross bar. The hook member can be locked to the vertical frame of the carrier by a cross bar connected to the vertical frame at the substantially top section of the vertical frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a goal carrier apparatus with respect to a user, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a hook member of the goal carrier apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 in an unlocked position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates the hook member of the goal carrier apparatus depicted in FIGS. 1-2 in an locked position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a user whose foot is placed on a bottom portion of the apparatus with the hook member engaged in a locked position as in FIG. 3, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.;

FIG. 5 illustrates movement of the goal carrier apparatus for transportation of the sports goal, in accordance with a preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 6 illustrates additional movement of the goal carrier apparatus for transportation of the sports goal, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates a goal carrier apparatus 100 with respect to a user 101 of the apparatus 100, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Note that in FIGS. 1-6 identical or similar parts are generally indicated by identical reference numerals. In general, the carrier apparatus 100 can be configured to include a vertical frame 113 supported by and above two or more wheels 109, 111. The wheels 109, 111 of the apparatus 100 are connected to the vertical frame 113. The carrier apparatus 100 also includes a hook member 117, which is connected to the vertical frame 113 at a substantially top portion of the vertical frame 113 for engaging a sports goal 102. The sports goal 102 can be, for example, a hockey goal utilized in ice hockey or a goal utilized in other sports, such as, for example, soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and so forth.

The user 101 can employ the carrier apparatus 100 to transport the sports goal 102 from one location to another by grabbing and holding a curved bar 115, which is connected to the frame 113 of carrier apparatus 100. The sports goal 102 includes a net 105 that is attached to and supported by a goal frame 104, which includes vertical portions 108 and 112 and an upper horizontal portion 110. The goal frame 104 further includes a horizontal curved section 107 that is also connected to the net 105. The curved section 107 can be configured as a bottom-pipe, which in the context of hockey, rests on ice, and to which the net 105 can be secured. The goal frame 104 additionally includes a lower horizontal portion 106 located between and connected to and supportive of the vertical portions 108 and 112.

FIG. 2 illustrates in greater detail the hook member 117 of the sports goal carrier apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 1 in an unlocked or open position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, and prior to engagement with the sports goal 102. The hook member 117 can rotate along the general direction of arrow 127 to engage the upper horizontal portion 110 of the carrier apparatus 100. In the illustration depicted in FIG. 2, the hook member 117 is shown as unengaged from the upper horizontal portion 110 of the apparatus 100. The hook member is connected to a bar 125 at a preferably centrally position 119 located between end screws and 123.

FIG. 3 illustrates the hook member 117 of the sports goal carrier apparatus depicted in FIGS. 1-2 in a locked position, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. As indicated in FIG. 3, the hook member engages the horizontal portion of the sports goal 102. When the hook member is surrounds and engages the upper horizontal portion of the sports goal 102, the apparatus 100 can be employed to move the sports goal easily to a different location.

FIG. 4 illustrates a user 101 whose foot is placed on a bottom portion of the apparatus 100 with the hook member 117 engaged in a locked position as in FIG. 3, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The user 101 can now readily move the sports goal 102 using the apparatus 100. The user 101 can hold the curved bar 115, which is connected to the frame 113 of carrier apparatus 100, to provide additional stability during transportation of the goal 102. Note that the curved bar 115 can also constitute a handle that can be gripped by the user 101.

FIG. 5-6 illustrates additional movement of the goal carrier apparatus 100 for transportation of the sports goal 102, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. As indicated in FIGS. 5-6, a user may additionally lower the sports goal 102 at an angle using the apparatus 100 for movement of the goal to a different location.

It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. 

1. A sports net carrier apparatus, comprising: a carrier having a vertical frame supported by at least two wheels; and a hook member connected to said vertical frame at a substantially top section of said vertical frame, wherein said hook member rotatably engages with a horizontal top portion of a sports goal to connect said vertical frame of said carrier to permit a movement of said sports goal by transporting said carrier through a movement of said at least two wheels.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hook member comprises a curved portion for engaging said top portion of said sports goal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hook member is locked to said vertical frame of said carrier by a cross bar connected to said vertical frame at said substantially top section of said vertical frame.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sports goal includes and maintains a sports net.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said curved portion comprises a bottom-pipe arrangement to which said sports net is secured.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hook member is rotatable between an unlocked position or a locked position with respect to said horizontal top portion of said sports goal.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sports goal comprises an ice hockey goal.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sports goal comprises a field hockey goal.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sports goal comprises a lacrosse goal.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sports goal comprises a soccer goal.
 11. A hockey net carrier apparatus, comprising: a carrier having a vertical frame supported by at least two wheels; and a hook member connected to said vertical frame at a substantially top section of said vertical frame, wherein said hook member rotatably engages with a horizontal top portion of a sports goal to connect said vertical frame of said carrier to permit a movement of said sports goal by transporting said carrier through a movement of said at least two wheels, wherein said hook member comprises a curved portion for engaging said top portion of said sports goal.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said hook member is locked to said vertical frame of said carrier by a cross bar connected to said vertical frame at said substantially top section of said vertical frame.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said sports goal comprises a sports net.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said curved portion comprises a bottom-pipe arrangement to which said sports net is secured.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said hook member is rotatable between an unlocked position or a locked position with respect to said horizontal top portion of said sports goal.
 16. A sports net carrier apparatus, comprising: a carrier having a vertical frame supported by at least two wheels; and a hook member connected to said vertical frame at a substantially top section of said vertical frame, wherein said hook member rotatably engages with a horizontal top portion of a sports goal to connect said vertical frame of said carrier to permit a movement of said sports goal by transporting said carrier through a movement of said at least two wheels, wherein said hook member is locked to said vertical frame of said carrier by a cross bar connected to said vertical frame at said substantially top section of said vertical frame.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said hook member comprises a curved portion for engaging said top portion of said sports goal.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said sports goal includes a sports net.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said curved portion comprises a bottom-pipe arrangement to which said sports net is secured.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said hook member is rotatable between an unlocked position or a locked position with respect to said horizontal top portion of said sports goal. 